Linkage

Recombination
The frequency of crossing over between
2 loci is proportional to the distance
between them; depends on which loci are
being studied
n Thus the percentage of recombinant
gametes vary
n This correlation is the basis for
constructing chromosome maps
n

MAP OF SELECTED
CHROMOSOMES

Concepts on linkage
1.

Departure from expected ratios should

suggest linkage
n

n
n
n
n

E.g. consider the cross AaBb x aabb to

yield
49 A-B39 aabb
10 A-bb
9 aaB-

What info can be deduced

from the cross?
The cross is a test cross and we expect a
1:1:1:1 ratio, this is for independent
genes
n Single gene ratios: 52A-: 48aa and 51B-:
49bb
n Genes A & B do not seem to be behaving
independently, thus they are LINKED
n

RF
n

RF = recombinants/ total x 100

= 19/ 100 x 100 = 19%
Therefore, 80% of the time the alleles stay
together. The genes are not completely
linked

nE.g.

consider the cross

nAaBb x aabb to yield
n49 A-Bn39 aabb
n10 A-bb
n 9 aaB-

2.

The most frequent classes will be the

parental or non-recombinant classes
n
n
n
n

Consider the cross in number 1

A & B are linked
Heterozygotes are either AB/ab or Ab/aB
The most frequent classes are A-B- and
aabb, thus they represent parental chrom.

3.

Linkage does not change the expected

numbers of phenotypes; only the
frequencies are changed.
n

E.g. consider example in #1, we still saw 4

phenotypes.
The frequency with which the minority
phenotypes appear depends upon the
distance between the 2 linked genes

4.

In a test cross, 2 equally frequent

majority classes and two equally
frequent minority classes suggest
linkage.
n
n

Refer again to the first example

A-bb and aaB- are also equal but in
minority

5.

Reciprocal classes usually appear

equally frequently.
n

Recombination results in the exchange of

parts of homologous chromosomes.
The even that produces one recombinant
class also produces the other class.

If we draw the homologous

chromosomes and indicate an exchange
as follows:
A
B
a
b
The resultant chrom will be
A
b and a
B
One gamete will get AB, other ab

6.

In crosses involving three genes that

are each heterozygous, double
crossover classes will usually be the
least frequent.
n

Consider the cross

A b C
x
a B c

a b c
a b c

Draw the chromosomes and double exchange

A___b___C
a___B___c

The resultant gametes from this double

exchange will be
A___B___C and a___b___c
Thus, these 2 phenotypic classes ABC and
abc will be the least frequent
n

In some cases with 3 linked genes, you

will see only 6 or 7 phenotypic classes. If
this happens, the 2 missing classes are
reciprocal, the missing classes are then
the DOUBLE CROSS OVER (DCO)
classes

E.g. AbC/aBc x abc/abc

AbC
40
aBc
38
ABc
6
abC
5
aBC
5
Abc
3
ABC
3
What is the observed DCO?

Group them into classes:

Parental or non-recombinant class (NRC)
n Single cross over1 (SCO1)
n Single cross over2 (SCO2)
n Double cross over (DCO)
n